Rosie's Words, Words, Words: A Journey to Meet the World

Originally a Christmas gift to a teacher, this story expanded and evolved into a full narrative with a circuitous journey about birth, learning, growth, aging, sacrifice, balance and payment of debts.

A Journey to Meet the World

by Alex J. Rosenheim

Written December 1999

Revised June 2006

Revisions continued in Google Docs

Page

Text of Page

Prologue

As everyone knows,

Life ebbs and life flows.

Its inside a cocoon,

that a butterfly grows.

Well, what would you say,

if on this very day,

you learned

there is more about that to say?

01

So, the butterfly-with-two-wings landed beside

the caterpillar-with-no wings.

The butterfly-with-two-wings felt complete…

…but the caterpillar-with-no-wings was not satisfied.

02

The caterpillar-with-no-wings had been sitting

alone and afraid, but gazing above…

…a blank slate observing all there was to observe.

03

“Just where do you go

when you fly through the sky?”

asked the caterpillar-with-no wings

from the branch of the tree

on the ground that is safe.

“What do you see

when you disappear

into the clouds?

What is the world like

above this world before me

where there is no world?

04

The butterfly-with-two-wings replied,

“The world is ours to see and enjoy.

I can take you, show you, teach you,

with a little trust and a little luck.

05

“What must I do? How can I see?”

06

“I’ll give you my wing and we’ll fly, two as one

among the trees and above the land

and the bushes and the water

and all of the world.”

07

So, the butterfly-with-one-wing joined

the caterpillar-with-one-wing

and they soared together…

08

…among the trees and above the land

and the bushes and the water

and all of the world.

09

They saw beasts that go…

the plants that grow...

…and the rivers that flow.

10

They saw homes,

11

...girls and boys.

12

They saw lives.

13

They saw joys.

14

But, still, the caterpillar-with-one-wing was not satisfied.

15

“I still want to know

just where is it you go

when you fly up

beyond all the clouds.”

16

“That is a journey you must take alone.

Together, we cannot reach heights that high

with only two wings to carry us both..

Together, we cannot journey that journey.”

17

So, from the branch of the tree

on the ground that is safe,

the butterfly-with-no-wings watched

and smiled

as the caterpillar-with-two-wings

disappeared into the clouds.

18

And as the caterpillar-with-two-wings

emerged beyond the clouds

to the world where there is no world,

the caterpillar-with-two-wings finally saw

that beyond the clouds was not the end of the world,

but only the beginning.

19

The sun shine was bright, and the clouds a delight,

and the sky flowed along to the horizon.

20

And on and on, the flight continued.

Until the sun was swallowed by the sea.

And the infinite lights of the stars appeared above.

And the infinite lights of the homes appeared below.

21

The world and the sky

became endless and one.

Fresh and alive.

Filled with hope.

22

Even still, the caterpillar-with-two-wings was not satisfied.

23

So the caterpillar-with-two-wings drifted

from above the clouds through the trees to the land

gliding towards the branch of the tree

on the ground that is safe.

24

But, before our friend touched down,

our friend saw below on the ground

the shadow of a butterfly-with-two-wings.

25

And on the branch of the tree on the ground that is safe

the butterfly-with-no-wings was gone.

26

In its place, sat a caterpillar-with-no-wings

alone and afraid, but gazing above…

…a blank slate observing the universe.

27

Gazing at this fresh soul,

the butterfly-with-two-wings saw a reflection,

and remembered the journey.

Remembered the lessons.

28

Now it was shown,

as had always been taught

and has always been known…

29

…that the world is ours to see and enjoy.

30

So, the butterfly-with-two-wings landed beside

the caterpillar-with-no wings.

The butterfly-with-two-wings felt complete…

…but the caterpillar-with-no-wings was not satisfied.

Epilogue

Now, as was said,

when this journey began,

this wonderful fantasy

is not the true plan.

But if you dig deep,

to the heart of the tale,

You just might find yourself.

And when you arrive,

you’ll not be alone

and you’ll not be afraid.

You’ll be surrounded by friends,

ready to join you

as your journey begins.

Then you will learn

and learn

and learn

and learn,

until the day when YOU share

what you’ve learned.

And then the person

that you've taught

will not be alone

and will not be afraid…

…and the journey will start again

from the very beginning.

Rosie's Words, Words, Words

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

A Journey to Meet the World

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About Me

*Page*	*Text of Page*
*Prologue*	As everyone knows, Life ebbs and life flows. Its inside a cocoon, that a butterfly grows. Well, what would you say, if on this very day, you learned there is more about that to say?
01	*So, the butterfly-with-two-wings landed beside* *the caterpillar-with-no wings.* *The butterfly-with-two-wings felt complete…* *…but the caterpillar-with-no-wings was not satisfied.*
02	*The caterpillar-with-no-wings had been sitting* *alone and afraid, but gazing above…* *…a blank slate observing all there was to observe.*
03	*“Just where do you go* *when you fly through the sky?”* *asked the caterpillar-with-no wings* *from the branch of the tree* *on the ground that is safe.* *“What do you see* *when you disappear* *into the clouds?* *What is the world like* *above this world before me* *where there is no world?*
04	*The butterfly-with-two-wings replied,* *“The world is ours to see and enjoy.* *I can take you, show you, teach you,* *with a little trust and a little luck.*
05	*“What must I do? How can I see?”*
06	*“I’ll give you my wing and we’ll fly, two as one* *among the trees and above the land* *and the bushes and the water* *and all of the world.”*
07	*So, the butterfly-with-one-wing joined* *the caterpillar-with-one-wing* *and they soared together…*
08	*…among the trees and above the land* *and the bushes and the water* *and all of the world.*
09	*They saw beasts that go…* *the plants that grow...* *…and the rivers that flow.*
10	*They saw homes,*
11	*...girls and boys.*
12	*They saw lives.*
13	*They saw joys.*
14	*But, still, the caterpillar-with-one-wing was not satisfied.*
15	*“I still want to know* *just where is it you go* *when you fly up* *beyond all the clouds.”*
16	*“That is a journey you must take alone.* *Together, we cannot reach heights that high* *with only two wings to carry us both..* *Together, we cannot journey that journey.”*
17	*So, from the branch of the tree* *on the ground that is safe,* *the butterfly-with-no-wings watched* *and smiled* *as the caterpillar-with-two-wings* *disappeared into the clouds.*
18	*And as the caterpillar-with-two-wings* *emerged beyond the clouds* *to the world where there is no world,* *the caterpillar-with-two-wings finally saw* *that beyond the clouds was not the end of the world,* *but only the beginning.*
19	*The sun shine was bright, and the clouds a delight,* *and the sky flowed along to the horizon.*
20	*And on and on, the flight continued.* *Until the sun was swallowed by the sea.* *And the infinite lights of the stars appeared above.* *And the infinite lights of the homes appeared below.*
21	*The world and the sky* *became endless and one.* *Fresh and alive.* *Filled with hope.*
22	*Even still, the caterpillar-with-two-wings was not satisfied.*
23	*So the caterpillar-with-two-wings drifted* *from above the clouds through the trees to the land* *gliding towards the branch of the tree* *on the ground that is safe.*
24	*But, before our friend touched down,* *our friend saw below on the ground* *the shadow of a butterfly-with-two-wings.*
25	*And on the branch of the tree on the ground that is safe* *the butterfly-with-no-wings was gone.*
26	*In its place, sat a caterpillar-with-no-wings* *alone and afraid, but gazing above…* *…a blank slate observing the universe.*
27	*Gazing at this fresh soul,* *the butterfly-with-two-wings saw a reflection,* *and remembered the journey.* *Remembered the lessons.*
28	*Now it was shown,* *as had always been taught* *and has always been known…*
29	*…that the world is ours to see and enjoy.*
30	*So, the butterfly-with-two-wings landed beside* *the caterpillar-with-no wings.* *The butterfly-with-two-wings felt complete…* *…but the caterpillar-with-no-wings was not satisfied.*
*Epilogue*	Now, as was said, when this journey began, this wonderful fantasy is not the true plan. But if you dig deep, to the heart of the tale, You just might find yourself. And when you arrive, you’ll not be alone and you’ll not be afraid. You’ll be surrounded by friends, ready to join you as your journey begins. Then you will learn and learn and learn and learn, until the day when YOU share what you’ve learned. And then the person that you've taught will not be alone and will not be afraid… …and the journey will start again from the very beginning.